DO YOU RECOGNIZE JESUS?

Transcription

1 DO YOU RECOGNIZE JESUS?

2 Throughout modern time, there has been debates, formulations, questions, downright falsely manufacturing what Jesus looked like. There s a Netflix documentary where killa Mike says, I don t want to worship no white Jesus, being deceived assuming Jesus was Anglo-Saxon. Killa Mike is even talking to Creflo Dollar about a white Jesus, and Creflo Dollar is unable to clearly refute killa Mike, which to me for a Pastor, should be apologetics 101. It s clear that images we have of Jesus proliferated in modern times today are, without question, inaccurate. Jesus was a Jew in the African region, Middle East region, so He had dark skin, dark eyes, and dark hair. The Bible describes Him with skin the color of burnish brass or bronze (Rev. 1:14). This is a far cry from the European/Caucasian Jesus in most modern portrayals. Yet, does that mean He was African looking? Hispanics are considered brown skinned, and they portray Jesus looking Latino, I m sure other races tend to make Jesus look more like them. All races tend to have these pictures, paintings of Jesus, and they all tend to show us this man who is attractive, well groomed, manicured with a nice physique. Yet, the Bible describes Jesus as uncomely or no comeliness Isa. 53:2b, the NIV states it this way: He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. So, why the worlds overall concern about how Jesus looked, his physical make up? Whether He was this skin tone or that skin tone? An obvious answer, outward appearance! The prince of the power of the air that blinds the mind and dulls the spiritual senses. God s Word tells us 1 Sam. 16:7: But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. The devil is about deception, appearances for judgment. We still have people trying to judge Jesus by out appearance, white, black, Latino, etc. Do You Recognize Jesus 2

3 Is this not judgment of outward appearance. How many people are deceived and disillusioned by the Jesus the Messiah not being black or white, Latino or Chinese. Indian or European. Only to concern themselves about His outward appearance because their shallow, have no depth of character, only to base a Messiah on man and the devil s representation of Him and miss the truth of His true beauty? One thing has always been clear to me since I ve been saved, if it were important for us to know what He really did look like, Matthew, Peter and John, who spent over three years with Him almost daily, and Jesus brothers James and Jude would have certainly given us an accurate description of what Jesus looked like, some description of His appearance, His physical attributes. Yet, the New Testament offers no real details about Jesus physical attributes or make up. It was not a beauty of form; it was the beauty of expression. It was not the beauty of statuary; it was the beauty of life. God purposely disappointed the senses of man as to the Messiah, making His true identity visible only to the discerning eye of faith. we must distinguish as to what He is in Himself and as to what He is in the eye of the discerner. Jesus came into this world a peasant, poor, obscure, uncomely, which He appeared to man from the outward nothing from His appearance we should desire. Those who could not hear or see, would say, Mark 6:3: Isn t this the carpenter? Isn t this Mary s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren t his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him. How many there are who live continually in blindness of the spirit of contempt. They continually look down, concerning themselves about how the preacher looks, how the witness looks, what they got and what their doing, instead of hearing and seeing. Outward appearance blinds and keeps man from seeing the burden and ugliness of their soul in exchange for an outward admiration of themselves, they by no means see a Jesus that beautifully said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, Do You Recognize Jesus 3

4 and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your soul..." (Matt. 11:28-30). Matt. 12:15-21 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not Zrich toward God. When one lives to the outward, the outward is most attractive to them, and they desire the outward appearances of satan, the prince of the power of the air, and wanes in themselves to the meekness and lowliness of Jesus who offers man who labors, strives and toils with insecurity, anxieties, worries, concerns and other elements that make this life sometimes miserable, sad, hopeless, and unfulfilled. A world where we are heavy laden with burdens of sin, guilt, wrongs, and shame. And Jesus tells us, I will give us rest of our inner selves. This is what s extremely desirable for those who want God s calling, not the attractiveness of this world. Yet, man is concerned with the outward appearance rather than a conscious of seeking the relief of the soul offered by Jesus. That s of the devil y all! To make you so occupied with the outward appearance that you can t see the inner need of the soul. Acts 8:26-39 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Go south to the road the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. 27 So he started out, and Do You Recognize Jesus 4

5 on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means queen of the Ethiopians ). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, Go to that chariot and stay near it. 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. Do you understand what you are reading? Philip asked. 31 How can I, he said, unless someone explains it to me? So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth. 34 The eunuch asked Philip, Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else? 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized? [37] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. What do we notice in this story? 1. He was Ethiopian, meaning he was black, that s what Ethiopian means (burnt skin). 2. He was a distinguished gentleman, an important man, he had some influence and wealth. 3. He had some education, especially for that day, because he could read, and he had scripture. Many people were unable to have their own books at the time, even if they could read. That was mainly for the upper class. 4. Phillip was not of his race, creed or countryman. Do You Recognize Jesus 5

6 Notice, that an Angel of the Lord sent Phillip to the road the Ethiopian was traveling. Next notice, the Holy Spirit told Phillip to go to the chariot the man was riding in, and told Phillip to stay near it. The Lord was then basically saying, wait, wait, wait for it. Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet (Acts 8:30). Phillip saw and heard, a man, who is not his countryman, not his skin color, in an upper class than him, was not a Jew, appeared to have wealth, prestige and honor, and none of that mattered to Phillip, and more importantly, the Ethiopian. All Phillip saw and heard was a man whose heart wanted to know the good news of Jesus. He didn t care what color Jesus was, how Jesus looked, what job Jesus had or any of the outward things. The Ethiopian saw in the scriptures the beauty and desirable ness of the prophet, messiah that was spoken of in those passages of Isaiah, which caused in his heart to desire Jesus. More importantly, God saw what was in the man s heart and sent Phillip over to him. Phillip explain to the man the passage was talking about Jesus, the Ethiopian s heart heard the truth about Jesus so much so, he willing accepted accepted a ritual that was foreign to him, baptism. He even told Phillip, before Phillip could get away from him, verse, 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized? 37 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. And guess what happened, 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. If the Ethiopian had been concerned with the exterior, outward appearance, he could have never accepted in his heart, Jesus and the remission of sins, the Blessed Counselor, the Savior, the Lamb of God. The Great I Am. It is with the heart one believes, and with the mouth one confesses that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was raised on the third Do You Recognize Jesus 6

7 day, and went to set at the right hand of the Father. If I believe in my heart this to be true, does matter how I perceive Jesus anything other than being the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior that takes the sins of the world. Jesus can appear to man any way He so chooses. Mark 16;12-13 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Luke 24:13-35: 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, What are you discussing together as you walk along? They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days? 19 What things? he asked. About Jesus of Nazareth, they replied. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus. 25 He said to them, How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Do You Recognize Jesus 7

8 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over. So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon. 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. John 20:14-16 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? Thinking he was the gardener, she said, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him. 16 Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, Rabboni! (which means Teacher ). John 21:4-6 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, Friends, haven t you any fish? No, they answered. 6 He said, Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Jesus appeared to Paul as a shinning light. Scripture also tells me that many have entertained Angels unaware. So, apparently, Jesus can appear in whatever form He so chooses, but would you recognize Him, whether He s black or white, Latino or Jewish, Chinese or Korean, would you recognize the heart of Jesus? Do You Recognize Jesus 8

9 Matt. 14:22-29 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. It s a ghost, they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: Take courage! It is I. Don t be afraid. 28 Lord, if it s you, Peter replied, tell me to come to you on the water. 29 Come, he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Notice, what Peter said, Lord if it s you tell me to come to you on the water. Peter couldn t recognize the form, but He did know the power. Peter had witnessed Jesus miraculously wield authority over the wind and waves earlier Mark 4:35-41: That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, Let us go over to the other side. 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, Teacher, don t you care if we drown? 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? 41 They were terrified and asked each other, Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him! Peter wasn t missing Jesus this time, who else could walk on the sea but the one who controlled the sea. So, Peter stepped out to Jesus, though his faith was shakey, Peter still stepped out believing in Jesus, though he did not recognize His physical form. Do You Recognize Jesus 9

10 Are you looking for the right Jesus, the Lord and Savior? Would you recognize Jesus, your Lord and Savior if He appeared to you? Do you find Him in your Church or in your heart? Is He someone that should be what you want Him to be, or is He what you need Him to be? Jesus is a great many of things to a great many of people, but one thing He is not, and that is some external, outward person you revere! Only those who see by faith see Him. Remember those two men that walked with Jesus, who told Jesus about Jesus, and how they had pinned all their hopes on Him as the Messiah only to see him arrested, crucified, dead and buried. Then they tell Him how some of the women had found the empty tomb and how the angel had told them that He was alive, but no one knew what was happening yet. After, listening to them, Jesus needed to set them straight, and said to them, O foolish ones!, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken., and begins teaching them about faith and fulfillment of prophecy. And when they get to Emmaus, these two disciples beg Him to stay for dinner and eat with them. And it is only when they get to the table, when the stranger takes the bread and breaks it, that their eyes were truly opened and they realized that they had been in Christ s presence the entire time. You do realize, these were believers, disciples; yet, they did not recognize Jesus. God did not allow these two men to recognize Jesus with their eyes. Instead, He wanted them to recognize Jesus through seeing with their hearts, hearing the word of truth of God. Like the Ethiopian, a heart of faith brings hearing, seeing and believing. Through our hearing we see Jesus, not through our eyes of outward, external, signs and wonders. So are many Christians, can t see Jesus. The problem is that they are using their eyes, looking for wonders, signs and symbols, and not seeing with their hearing that cometh by faith. If you want to see Jesus, open up the eyes of your heart and you will see Him in your life. Do You Recognize Jesus 10

11 2 Cor 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor. 5:6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor 5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. You don t have to know what he looked like to know him! God is Spirit and He looks for those to worship in spirit and in truth. Then you see Jesus! Do You Recognize Jesus 11